The University of Iowa Libraries

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright has been transferred to the University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The Ann Larimer letters Ann Larimer letters(donor no. 168) were purchased by the Special Collections Department, University of Iowa Libraries, for the Iowa Women's Archives.

Preferred Citation: Ann Larimer letters, Iowa Women Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City.

Repository:	Iowa Women's Archives
Address:	100 Main Library University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5068
Curator:	Kären Mason
Email:	lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

Ann Larimer was married to John Larimer. They had two children, one daughter and one son. The Larimers lived in Queen City, Iowa, a small town that no longer exists. During John Larimer's service in the Civil War, his wife wrote to him frequently, telling him of the latest news about their friends, updating him on family matters, informing him about his mother's death, and trying to console him and wish him well in the war.

The Ann Larimer letters date from February to July of 1865 and consist of 9 letters, each of them written by Larimer to her husband.  The letters are arranged in chronolgical order.  Their importance lies in their personal, first-hand depiction of rural life in Iowa during the Civil War.  The ink on the letters is faint in places and the handwriting is difficult to read.  The original letters have been filed separately because of their fragility, but may be consulted by researchers.

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Personal Names:
Larimer, Ann
Larimer, John

Dates:
1860-1869

Topics:
Women and war
American Civil War, 1861-1865
Family life
Rural women
Rural conditions
Rural families

Occupations:
Homemakers

Geographic Names:
Adams County (Iowa)
Queen City (Iowa)

Genre/Form of Materials:
Archives
Personal papers
Correspondence

Browse:
Women in Wartime
Nineteenth Century Women
Women and War